It finally came! (and this was supposed to be posted on Dec 3)

New Arrivals
My new skein of Must Stash Yarn has finally arrived at my house. The Perfect Sock base in the colourway of Darkside of the Moon.  I'm pretty sure I will be making another set of vanilla toe-up socks.  It's so pretty and lovely but I can't really say much more until I actually start knitting with it.  I will resist the temptation until at the very least, I finish the vanilla socks I am currently knitting.

I ordered another bag from Stitched by JessaLu.  It's a Dr. Who Christmas special bag.  It's on its way now...or more specifically it's on its way to the country and I'm refreshing my Canada Post App every hour.

On-going projects
Plain Ol' Strippy Socks (aka: Burberry-esque socks): I am at the heel for the first sock and on my way to the heel for the second.  I'm doing an afterthought heel so once I reach to the heel for the second sock, I'll put in the waste yarn for both and move onto the legs.

Test Pattern - Stockai Cniotala: I started a text knit for a new to me designer and let me tell you, it's a lot of cables.  It will look amazing when it's done I'm sure but I already suffered a set back with my original choice of yarn.  It's a skein of Cascade Yarn Heritage in a Teal-ish colour way I got from the Romni Wools Boxing Day Sale.  I am in love with the colour but the yarn constantly yarn barfs on me.  Instead of battling the barf, I went to my stash and pulled out a skein of something else and started again however with the amount of concentration it takes to do this project it just wasn't viable this week with school, work and bus travel.  Next week, I have more time to myself and I'll put some good work towards it.

Plans for 300 yards of leftovers
I'm looking at my Kai-Mei's that I knit from Wollmeise Twin.  I love this colour.  It's a WD of Allegria.  I have enough for a pair of anklets and maybe a bit more.  I'm thinking of using some black yarn for the toe, heel and cuff and working on it toe up so I can do make them without running out of yarn.  I still want to have enough make a plushie with it.  Maybe I should make a plushe first and make the socks out of the left overs.

Things are looking good

I don't know why but today just felt like a good day.  I woke up upset with myself for not being able to do my Critical Analysis but that fear kind of got relieved when I was able to set up a meeting with my teacher to get extra help.  While waiting for my math class, and the mark for m math test, I got a good portion of my computer class work down which I completed about an hour ago.  I showed up for a cancelled math class, found out the tests hadn't been marked yet.  I am anxious to find out my grade.

I had lunch at Nori Sushi not far from my house and it was delicious.  Went walking through the mall which was a long way to get to the post office to find out how much it would cost to sent the Susan Claudio Ravelry Group gift swap.  It's a reasonable cost so I'm looking forward to sending it off.  I put in quite a bit of work on a test pattern for Econnerd.  It is a beautiful pattern and when it goes up on Ravelry, I suggest everyone give it a look.

I got home and finished up all of my computer work which has never been done since this semester started.  I was able to see my mark for my Marketing class online (80% baby! Combined with my not failing my Intro to Business test, I am elated).  I came to my room to watch the series premier of The Flash on PVR and then I got an email from the Must Stash Yarn Shop letting me know that I could pre-order a skein of Dark Side of the Moon.  I only mildly paid attention to the skein when Stacy showed it on the MustStash Podcast.  I started to drool when Stacy sent everyone to go look at Yarn Harlot's Blog to see it knitted up.  I'm surprised my keyboard didn't short circuit from the drool.  I did not delay when I got the e-mail and pre-ordered my skein.

So let's sum up the good stuff for this week:

1. Finished my gift for the swap (and it's adorable)
2. Set up a meeting with my teacher to get help
3. Finished my computer homework
4. Good lunch at Nori Sushi
5. Decent price for shipping swap gift
6. Mock-asins I like are on sale and I have a pair on hold for me until Friday
7. Test knitting "Helix Cable Socks" by Econnerd which I am loving
8. Great mark for my Marketing test
9. Decent mark for my Intro to Business
10. Series premier of The Flash which was excellent
11. I was able to pre-order a skein of Dark Side of the Moon! (YES!)

Year of Projects: Week 31

It was another wonder knitting week for me. I had a finished object and started 2 more.

The Flying Angels cowl is completed. I'm still not find of the colour but it turned out well.

It's a nice pattern but I'm thinking it would be a nice pattern for a head band.

I got another request for another test knit for Econnerd (she's really churning these out!). It's called ZigZag Ripple socks. I am absolutely loving this pattern!

There has been no extra progress on the Warm Woolen Mittens and I guess based on what gets done this week, with work happening and all.

I decided that I needed a "simple" knitting project for bus rides and breaks at work and I started a shawl... The Barndom by Stephen West. 

Don't the colours go together nicely? There is an option to add a third colour but I can't find one in my stash that will go with it nicely. I may need to add to my stash.

I still have quite a bit of additional rows before the next colour gets added but that's a worry for this up coming week once I cake the contrasting colour.

Year of Projects: Week 30

Week 30 is here! Doesn't seem like I've been doing this endevour that long :)

I have had a good knitting related week. I worked on 2 projects, received an item I ordered and ordered something new.  Let start with the "just received" order.

I have had a love for containers for as long as I can remember (the only thing that really precedes it is my love of stationary). I like jars and vases and boxes and bags. When I started knitting, I started looking for bags to put them in. I bought a few that I liked. While I was looking around on Etsy (my place to online shop for unique things), I discovered a shop called "Knitterbag". I wanted to buy immediately but that was around the time that I had lost my job and I decided I should at the very least try to be reasonable with my money.

A couple of weeks ago, I went on the Etsy app and looked through all the stuff I had sitting in shopping carts (just waiting for me to click purchase). I found one of the style of bags I had liked from way back when was on sale. I had some money so I purchased it and promptly forgot all about it.

Friday night, Canada Post shows up at my house asking for me to sign for a package. As soon as I saw where it was from, I knew what it was. So after that long history lesson, let me introduce you to my new knitting bag.

Ain't it pretty? It's sewn by Jurgita, owner of KnitterBag on Etsy. It's a sturdy linen that I hope I can keep clean. The coolest thing about it to me is the inside.

It comes with 4 compartments. Right now I've got 2 balls of yarn and my stitch marker container in the pockets, the project and the pattern. I'm already planning on buying 2 more of this size for my sock sized projects.

Onto the projects now...

Remember the Warm Woolen Mittens I was talking about from last week? I had to frog it and start again after I tried the cuff, which was only half way done, on. It was too big so I sized down the needles and started again. I am very pleased with my progress.

The only reason I stopped working on this project was because I was finally able to print out the test pattern. First of all, this yarn is deliciously soft! I want more of it in my stash for a multitude of possible projects, like this one:

So I can have it match with my "soon-to-be-done" mittens...which reminds me, I need to find out the yardage so I can get the amount of yarn I need.  Only changes I suggest for anyone doing the Warm Woolen Mittens is to go for a smaller needle size for the cuff.

Question: Does fingering weight held double, make it to worsted?  If not, what does?

Next project! The test project for Econnerd.

It's a cowl scarf and I am liking it so far.  I was hesitant with choosing which yarn to use because I didn't want the pattern of the lace to disappear in the yarn  So I went with Knitpicks Stroll in the colourway Butternut.  I'm pretty certain it's not the best choice of colour for me to wear it.  But it'll do for a test.

And before I forget!  I made my first Wollmeise order!  Direct from the website and not from someone else's destash.  I'm hoping to get it within a couple weeks.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it just yet.  I've already got enough projects to worry about without worrying about a skein of yarn I don't have in my hands yet.

Year of Projects / 26 Pair Plunge

Year of Projects: Week 29

This has been an eventful week!  I worked my last week at my seasonal retail job.  I'm sad to have to leave but the store isn't keeping any of the seasonal workers and from what I've seen, there isn't enough business to support the workers as it is.  I got another job, for the same company in a different location.  Colour me happy and I hope I enjoy it just as much as I did at the first location (and for still being employed).  I start at the end of the month so that's like have just over 2 weeks vacation :)

I am suitably happy with the work that I've done in regards to knitting this week.  I've finished a project, cast on another and I'm about to cast on for another.

It's now 4 out of 26! Woefully behind but who cares?  I've finished the Circe Socks.  The ends have to be woven in and socks have to be washed but I am classifying them as being done!

 

 Yarn: Anzula Squishy in the colourway Ducky

I need a proper picture needs to be shown to show the details of the socks.  They are beautiful and a fun and easy knit.  I'd definitely do it again.  Also, if you can get to an LYS and squish this yarn, DO IT!  It feels so nice!

I started the mittens for the SpillyJane KAL from my LYS, Handknit Yarn Studios, late Friday night.  I'm knitting the Warm Woolen Mittens.  I haven't even finished the cuff yet so I don't quite think there's a point to taking a picture as of yet but there will definitely be one next week. I got to be ready for the cast on party at the shop.  We were actually given permission to start early if we wanted to.

The other project that I'm about to start is another test pattern for Econnerd on Ravelry.  It's a fingering weight cowl.  Only problem is that I don't think I have a circular needle in a size 2.5 US and neither do I have it in interchangeable tips.  I may just go up a needle size and be done with it.

On another note, if you want to try a Stephen West pattern, they are 25% off until the end of today (meaning Sunday January 12, 2014).  I purchased 3 of them; Clockwork, Barndom and Rockerfella.  I got the yarn picked out for one of them (if it gets found) and I'll probably keep the other 2 in mind when I go out and buy more yarn for the stash.

YEAR OF PROJECTS / 26 PAIR PLUNGE

Year of Projects: Week 12

Boy! Am I ever late with this one but I have a good excuse, I swear!  Last night I was (actually I still am as of writing this) in Hamilton. In the summer, they have these monthly festivals called "The Art Crawl". I have been hearing about these for ages and have always wanted to go but a of yet, every Friday it happens, I have choir practice and I can't attend. This month, they had a bigger festival called "The Super Crawl" to end the summer festivals and it went until Saturday night...the time I usually prepare my YOP update.

I was amazed with all the arts that I saw.  I wasn't aware that Hamilton was such a big artistic community.  It makes me wanting to move there seem so much better.  I have to show off some pictures of what I saw going on.

This is just one section of the people we saw while walking through.  This is before the shopping stalls and food trucks.  You can see 2 of the many, many cousins I have; in green and the other in blue,

This is made for poptabs and yarn.  A lady was crocheting them into bags.  What a great way to reuse what's around.

I am not fond of creepy looking dolls BUT I am loving the two dolls at the front.  I made sure I took a business card to look up her shop at a later date.

This man was painting this right when I took this picture.  I think it looks like it's pencil drawn so imagine how much work it took to get that done.

Apparently, they always have a "graffiti" wall (or more than one) at the Super Crawl.  On this fence people posted art work and wrote messages.

I think this was a decoupage art.  I thought it was painted at first.

I don't know who did this but I think it looks amazing.

There was even live music.  I believe this guy was playing "Heaven" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.  This is actually one of my favourite jazz songs.

On to the actual update. This week, I worked on quite a few projects. I worked on the Irish Hiking Scarf for my brother and I completely missed my September 10th finishing date that I had planned for it. I worked on the Hitchhiker Scarf. I think it's almost half the length recommended. And lastly, I worked on the test pattern socks and I can show pictures of it (and you can also see why I "ooh" and "aww" over the colour of this yarn).

Irish Hiking Scarf

Hitchhiker Scarf

Test Socks - Ladder to the Sky

The fabulous Springtree Road Yarn, Muscadine in Framboise

The name for this pattern is Ladder to the Sky. It's designed by Econnerd on Ravelry. I only have one foot completed however, I am half way through the secon sock.  If I'm lucky (but I'm thinking its not going to happen), I can finish the pair on the 15th, (yes that is today) which is the deadline.

Over 12 hours later and a day of volunteering at a foodbank...
It ain't gonna be done in time.  Still on the gusset but I will finish these socks this week and I will be able to put up my 26 Pair Plunge banner for a 3rd time.

Year of Posts 2013-2014 / 26 Pair Plunge

It is almost finished

Well one sock is almost done for the test sock pattern. All that's left is the grafting which I will be getting done before I go to bed tonight.

Still no pictures yet until I get permission. But I have had compliments about it already. Hopefully by this time next week, the second sock will be done.

I am loving this test!

I'm still working on the test pattern socks. I'm finished the gusset and I'm working my way down the foot. I am loving the colour and I'm loving the pattern.  I'm still hesitant to put up pictures because I don't know if that's accepted for test patterns

I'm already thinking of revamps with a diagonal pattern.

Just some things that I've realized through this process:

1) a 64 cast on and a lacy design apparently DO fit!

2) a 1 US needle on a 64 stitch count and a lacy design do fit

3) the Adobe Photoshop app is really app for getting the white in a picture really white

That is all :)